Chapter 15

As Jeff watched Leah sleeping in his arms he looked at her hands, still tightly bound with his. She hadn’t moved all night, Jeff knew because he had been awake most of the night to make sure Leah slept and was ok. She hadn’t woken once. Jeff felt her stir in his arms and he looked down at her. She moved her head and buried it closer to Jeff’s neck.

“Hey.” She whispered softly.

“Hey. Sleep well?” he asked as she freed her hands and moved around in his arms.

“Yeh I did. You?”

“Good. How are you feeling?”

“Good I think. I feel safe with you Jeff.”

“That’s because you are safe with me. I told you that.”

“I know but I don’t trust what people say, not now anyway.”

“Do you trust me?” he asked almost regretting the question as she looked away from him.

She paused before answering. “Yes Jeff. I trust you.” With her words Jeff breathed a sigh of relief. Leah laughed at him. The expression on his face changed. He had a smile across his lips.

“Funny is it?”

“Yep.”

“Very well. Then I have to punish you for laughing at me. You’ll never learn otherwise.” He said smiling at her. Loving affections filled his eyes. Ones he hoped she couldn’t see. She smiled back at him, but trying to keep a straight face.

 “Oh is that right Jeffery?”

“That does it!” Jeff said as he tickled Leah’s sides. She tried to get out of the bed but Jeff wrapped his legs around her. She was laughing so hard she couldn’t fight him.

“Stop Jeff please!!!” she begged him through her laughter. He just laughed harder and pinned her down on the bed. He put on a straight face and looked deep into her eyes.

“I can’t do that young lady. I told you before about calling me that so this time you pay.”

“Yes sir!” Leah shouted in hysterics as she lay beneath Jeff on the bed.

“Now what were all those things you said to me? I think it’s to many to remember. So now for your punishment….”

“I’ve been a very bad girl. Forgive me?” She asked trying to hold back the laughter.

“You’re forgiven but you still need to be punished.” He said still thinking about what he would do to her. He knew what he wanted to do, kiss her, but he knew he couldn’t, she didn’t feel the same way and she would probably think he was taking advantage and with all the other stuff going on. He thought if he was going to make a move then it would be when he knew she felt something for him and when she was ready. “I’ve got it!” Jeff said as he climbed of her. He stood at the side of the bed and put his hands on his hips.

“Yes sir? What can I do for you?” she asked as she sat up with her back against the headboard.

“I want a massage.”

“Is that all? I thought you would have wanted a strip tease.” She said as she got onto her knees and crawled over to the edge where Jeff stood. She reached out and grabbed his t-shirt and pulled him closer to the bed. He gladly moved closer. “Thank you Jeff.” She said as all the laughter left her.

“For what? A light punishment?” he asked smiling at her.

“No. Thank you for everything. You have been so good to me. You stayed with me last night. You held me when I needed to be held. You listened when I had no body else to talk too. You’ve been there for me and you don’t know how much that means to me. And it means so much Jeff. I know we didn’t get on to start with, to be honest I hated you but now I couldn’t hate you if I tried. I have feelings for you that run deeper than being friends. But those feelings scare me Jeff, they scare me more then anything that has happened and is happening to me. I don’t know what to do about them. I just want you to know that I really care about you Jeff. And even if you don’t feel the same I just want you to know how I feel. When I’m with you Jeff I forget everything. Lat night when you held me I felt safe, safer than I have every felt. And I want to thank you for that Jeff.”

Jeff stood stunned for a couple of seconds before Leah thought she had blown it. “I’m sorry Jeff. I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget what I said please.” She begged him as she fell back onto her heels.

“How can I forget what you said? You have no idea how much that means to me. And you have no idea how much I have wanted you to say some of those words Leah. Hearing you say those things is the best thing I have ever heard. Leah I don’t want your feelings to scare you because I don’t want you to be scared, I want you to know that…. to know that I have the same feelings for you.” He paused as Leah looked up at him. “But I know everything that is going on so I didn’t want to say anything to you. You have enough problems as it is. I didn’t want to add to them.”

“Jeff you wouldn’t be adding to them. For days I have been thinking about you. About what a cow I was to you.” She spoke softly through tear filled eyes. “But Jeff, I don’t think I could handle more than friends right now. I’m sorry. I just hope you can wait for me. I hope you can wait until I’m ready. Until all this has one away and I can live my normal life again….” she paused thinking about what she was saying. “…With you.”

Leah looked into Jeff’s eyes. For the first time she saw the emotions in them. The emotion she knew where reflected in her own, no matter how many tears filled them.

Chapter 16

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